Community banks connect with students at Jabs networking event

The Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship held its first formal “Community Banking Network Night” (CBNN) on Jan. 28 in Jabs Hall. 

The event was designed for students who are interested in finance, lending, credit analysis and other aspects of community banking, according to its website. Attendees could meet with banking professionals and learn about internships and early-career opportunities. 

“[CBNN] is a natural arm of Jabs' Community Banking Program, the objective of which is to meet the demand for well-trained graduates interested in careers in banking in Montana,” said Toby Blake, director of the Bracken Center at Jabs. 

According to Blake, CBNN was designed to strengthen the relationship between campus and the community and allow banks to get to know students on a personal level. 

“We wanted to create a physical space where community banks could have deeper conversations with students who are genuinely curious about banking,” he said.

According to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., community banks focus on providing traditional banking services to their local communities. They obtain most of their core deposits and make many of their loans to local businesses.

“Community banks are often the financial backbone of small towns and growing cities in Montana,” Blake said. 

According to him, events like CBNN are especially important for first and second-year students. “This may be the first time they’ve talked one‑on‑one with someone who could actually hire them,” he said.

Blake said the event provides these students with examples of their coursework in real-world situations and allows them to build connections. “Socially and professionally, [students] practice introducing themselves, asking good questions and building real relationships with bona fide employers looking to hire them,” he said.

MSU alum and representative of First Interstate Bank Josh Miller said that the community banking program gave him a lot of good connections, support and direction. “I ended up applying to First Interstate Bank and getting an internship there,” he said

According to Miller, the turnout for the night was great. “The candidates and students that showed up were very polished,” he said.  

Travis Wright, another attendee representing Stockman Bank, said that it currently employs 13 interns from the Jabs Community Banking Program, many of whom are in officer positions.

Wright acknowledged the importance of community banking and said events like this help to strengthen the industry and give back to the community. “[Stockman’s] has had great success partnering with Jabs’ Community Banking Program to find students that we can then take into an internship and later grow into employees,” he said.

Attendee Dashiell Weber said that he really enjoyed the event. “I felt like I've learned some meaningful things talking to people,” he said. “Obviously I'm looking for an internship, but more importantly, I'm just looking to gain experience talking to people.”

Sahra Nell Harp, a junior marketing and graphic design major and Jabs student ambassador, said events like CBNN help students make meaningful connections with Montana’s professional community. 

“Seeing local businesses invest time in students was empowering and emphasized the value of gaining real-world experience early,” she said. 

“I love connecting with students and seeing their talents and skills in practice,” Harp said. “I encourage anyone to come to the next Jabs networking night.”

To learn more about the Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship and its future events, visit https://www.montana.edu/business/index.html.